In Hanyang University (HYU), there are approximately 2500 international students, including those who came as exchange students. Every new year, more international students are coming to HYU with high hopes and expectations to further their studies and to have a new experience. This week, News H met with 3 of the new international students in this spring semester. From Pakistan, Abubakar Sharafat (Civil Engineering, Integrated Master’s-Doctor’s Program) As he has much time in Korea, Sharafat said he wants to visit as many places as he can in Korea. After graduating from his university, Sharafat wanted to continue his studies. While searching for graduate schools, Sharafat started to have an interest in Korea and HYU. “At the company I was working at after graduation, several colleagues of mine recommended Korea. They told me that Korea is highly developed in the field of Civil Engineering, and HYU is the best school in engineering studies,” said Sharafat. Besides from the fame of HYU in engineering studies, friends of Sharafat who already studied in HYU, also told positive experience they had to Shrafat. Positive experience of friends motivated him to choose the HYU. “Now, because of my recommendation, my sister will also join me in HYU, which is a good news.” “I am currently here as a scholarship student of the Pakistan government, I will be here for about 5 years, so I will have to get used to many things in Korea like the language and food,” said Sharafat. Still, Sharafat said that he was surprised to see many commonalities between the culture of Pakistan and Korea. “Soon after I came to Korea, I found out that Koreans and Pakistanis both emphasize the respect for elders. Other than that, when I went to the field trip to Damyang with other international students, we got to make Korean traditional rice snack, which is also the famous sweet treat in Pakistan, called ‘Maronda’.” From France, Guzelya Marisova (International business management, Master’s program) Some of the left things-to-do for Marisova is to study Korean hard, visit Kookiwon (National Taekwondo Institute), and Hanwok village. Marisova’s decision to come to HYU and Korea is highly relevant with her love toward taekwondo. She has been playing taekwondo for 13 years now since she was 11. When she grew older and moved to France from Kazakhstan in 2014, she won a world champion title in WASCO (World All Style Combat Organization). “I first witnessed taewondo in a demo show back in my school when I was living in Kazakhstan. As soon as I saw it, I thought it was what exactly I need, and that I could protect myself with it. Since then, coming to Korea was one of my bucket lists,” said Marisova. While learning taekwondo, she was also impressed with the Korean culture, ‘ye’ (manners and respects between people) that is permeated inside of it. Her love toward taekwondo naturally led her to learn Korean as well. Even before coming to Korea, Marisova said she was taking Korean classes. Currently in HYU as well, Marisova is taking a Korean class. “I am still in the level of a beginner, but I hope staying in Korea will help me learning it faster, to communicate in Korean fluently.” Marisova also shared how thankful she is for the kind and clear instructions of Korean professors. While Marisova is quite familiar with some culture of Korea, She said she witnessed cultural stereotype in the country. “One thing I noticed in Korea was a cultural stereotype still existing in Korea,” explained Mariova. “As I am not a white Caucasian, people generally don’t think I could be a French. It is understandable because immigration is not as widespread in Korea.” From Germany, Ildikó Brust (Business Administration, 3rd year) If she has a chance, Brust said she wants to visit DMZ one again, as far as civilians are allowed to go. Among the 3 students, Brust is the one who is having the completely new experience in HYU and in Korea. “Before coming to HYU, I absolutely knew little about Asia, which was the reason why I chose Korea. I wanted to go to a place that is completely different in every way and that gave quite a surprise to my family and friends,” said Brust. Similar to other international students, Brust was able to find out about HYU because of her friend’s recommendation. “One of my German friend told me all about the amazing experiences she had in HYU, which really led me to come to HYU.” “What I really find cool is how big and modern the campus is, it is really different from my school back in Germany. I find it very nice to see all the convenience facilities like cafeterias and coffee shops inside the campus,” said Brust. Also, in classes, Brust was amazed how participative and helpful students are. "People tend to be more individualistic in Germany, but in Korea people have a stronger sense of community. I really do appreciate how students always try to help me.” Until now, one of the most memorable place Brust went in Korea was Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). “Even before coming to Korea, I was planning to visit DMZ. Korea is the only country separated in the world now and we hear all the shocking and terrible news about North Korea. I wanted to see a little bit of that myself.” After visiting DMZ, Brust thought she would want to go there one more time, to further inside where civilians can still go. Whether it is just for a semester or more years to come, News H hope all international students to have a best experience inside HYU. Yun Ji-hyun uni27@hanyang.ac.kr Photos by Moon Hana

There are a lot of foreign students around the world who visit and attend Hanyang University (HYU). Due to cultural differences and lack of information about the school system, exchange students may experience difficulties in campus life in Korea. The Division of Business Administration is one of the majors that attracts and admits a large number of foreign students. Therefore, many local students who major in business are likely to take classes with foreign exchange students. Glitters, also referred to as global supporters or ambassadors in the Division of Business Administration, are there to help foreign students by giving them information on Korean culture, corporations, and campus life. This week, News H met one of the members of Glitters, Woo Sung-jun (Business Administration, 3rd yr), to hear about Glitters’ activities. Woo, as a Glitters member, explained about the organization and its activities. A budding organization that helps exchange students “Glitters is a student organization comprised of 10 members, for assisting exchange students’ campus life at HYU and providing info about Korea. Although Glitters was created by the administrative team of the Division of Business Administration, its programs are planned, developed, and carried out by the students,” Woo said. Especially because Glitters was established at the beginning of last year, the members put a lot of effort in creating programs by themselves for international students. Woo said that members of Glitters had some concerns related to how it should take a first step into the right direction as founding members. However, due to biweekly meetings, conversations and cooperation between members, they could create helpful activities for international students and greatly satisfy those who participated. “Glitters provides various chances for business students to get in touch with the business environment. It can broaden the horizon and network of the students. I believe that student can gain lots of benefits from joining the events that are organized by Glitters,” Kwan Ho Yin, an exchange student from Hong Kong, commented. Self-made programs for international students Glitters provides a variety of programs for foreign students that include orientation for international students, 'Nori-ters' (Nori meaning play) during school festival time, ‘Conversation Salons’, and visits to Korean companies. Of all the programs, one of the most successful and popular activities developed by Glitters were two visits to Korean corporations. Woo was the team leader of the two visits. “The two companies that we selected were start-up corporation named Maru 180, visited on November 11th, and a major Korean broadcasting company called JTBC, visited on November 28th.” According to Woo, the choice was due to informing exchange students the concept of start-up corporations that do not exist in foreign countries, and also showing the atmosphere of a rising broadcasting network. Visits to two Korean corporations, Maru 180 (top) and JTBC (bottom). After Glitters selected the companies, contacting, making the advertising posters, planning the program schedule, interpretation between the executives and the international students were all taken care of by the members themselves. “The utmost objective of the visits was interaction. Especially after visiting Maru 180, we tried to give prior information to students about the company that we were planning on going to, in order to proceed well with the Q&A and interview sessions that we planned.” According to the executive of Maru 180, there are few occasions where foreign students visit Korean corporations. Glitters provided the very opportunity for international students to experience, feel the atmosphere, and know more about Korean companies. “About the Conversation Salons, we came up with the form, theme, contents and the questionnaires for communication between exchange students and Koreans. This program intrigued many Korean students because they could have the chance to talk to foreigners,” Woo explained. Glitters started the Conversation Salons with the Samsung batteries issue, but then moved onto more casual topics such as life in Korea. Not only did Glitters organize Conversation Salons and visits to Korean corporations, but they also provided two orientation sessions for foreign students to introduce Korean campus life, global students’ assisted schoolwork and planned Nori-ters, which was also the name of their booth during the school festival that allowed foreign students to experience Korean traditional games and food. “We are planning to provide more activities that can meet the needs of international students, to help them adjust well in the Division of Business Administration and know more about Korea and Korean businesses,” Woo said. After every program, Glitters receives feedback from participants and try to reflect their opinions for subsequent programs. “As a Glitters member, working for international students, I feel like I'm fulfilling important values for international friends. I also learned how to understand and care for foreign students. Anyone who is interested in helping exchange students is welcome to join us as a new member of Glitters. English is an important aspect, but it's even more critical to have the knack for instilling in international friends a life value here in Korea, as well as making the most of of working together as a group.” Woo cheerfully added. Glitters members feel pride in organizing programs and providing information about Korea for international students. Jang Soo-hyun luxkari@hanyang.ac.kr Photos by Moon Ha-na